by Paul Hiffmeyer
I've risen with the sun over wine
vineyards. My breath has been taken away floating between red canyon walls.
I`ve stood in awe at the sight of 1,000 hot air balloons filling the sky.
But my most emotional experience has to be sight of the military balloons
tethering over the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall during Veterans Weekend
in Ridgecrest, California.
Walking along the length of "the wall that heals," overly concentrating on taking just the right picture, I couldn't help but being distracted by my own memories of Vietnam and of fallen friends. As I watched people gather in front of the Wall, some touching names of loved ones etched in its surface, others placing letters, flags and flowers at its base, some with tears in their eyes, it became very evident the high price one can pay for freedom.
Ridgecrest hosted the traveling memorial as part of its tour to various towns across the country with dedication ceremonies taking place throughout its week-long stay. During a special ceremony following the Ridgecrest Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday, November 8, six military and patriotic balloons tethered behind the Wall creating a moving sight. "As far as we have been able to determine, this is the first time the military, POW/MIA and Uncle Sam balloons have flow over the traveling Wall," said Balloonmesiter and veteran, Duane Powers.
After the band played the Star Spangled Banner and a flyover by Navy F-18s, the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home balloon launched, leaving the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, POW/MIA and Uncle Sam balloons tethered in the field. Throughout the afternoon emotions ran high during a solemn ceremony that included members of a color guard draping an empty chair with a black POW/MIA flag, wreaths being laid next to a symbolic cross and Taps played in honor or our fallen Veterans.
The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the permanent memorial in Washington, D.C., yet it is still huge. Its more than 250 feet of highly polished black aluminum surface carries the same 58,202 names of Vietnam Veterans who gave their lives for their country. The original traveling memorial was built in 1982, constructed out of Plexiglas panels and wood-framed structure. It was retired in 1986 and replaced by Formica-laminated Masonite panels and steel tubular framing. Both structures were completely rebuilt at the end of 1988. The structures now consist of aluminum panels mounted to aluminum framing and supported with tubular steel bracing. Toward the end of 1995 a third structure was constructed because of the ever increasing requests for the Wall.
They were replaced in 1995 by electroplated aluminum panels that allowed the names to be laser-etched by a computer. The new method made it possible for visitors to create "name rubbings" in the same way they can from the original monument in Washington, D.C.
After witnessing the ceremony with the military hot air balloons tethered over the Wall, I can only hope they lifted the spirits of those left to carry on as much as they did mine.
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